FESTIVE TABLESCAPES - a mix of unusual ideas and inspiration to create your own
Welcome to the BLOG
Hi, I’m Sandra.
If you're in awe of stunning interiors and crazy about home decor, you’re in the right place. As an interior writer with a background in styling and photography for leading magazines around the globe (see below) as well as an avid home renovator, I am here to help you style and decorate your home with ease and confidence, like a pro.
On this blog, I’ll be sharing insightful articles packed with advice, tips, and ideas for home styling and decoration, along with inspiring tours of beautifully styled spaces. Having styled countless homes with very different interiors, I know it’s the final touches and thoughtful curating that make a space magazine-worthy, regardless of whether it’s an architectural masterpiece or filled with high-end furniture. And, rather than focus on one particular interior look or style, I aim to open your eyes to a wide variety so you feel inspired, not limited. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level. In this week’s blog post, I will show you several gorgeous, very different festive tablescapes to inspire you to create your own.
FESTIVE TABLESCAPES
Photo credit: Garden Trading
The table at Christmas is a place where not only do we enjoy delicious food, it’s a spot where we gather to play games, pull crackers, and have interesting conversations over a glass or two of something. It’s definitely one of my favourite areas to style. I try each year to create a special festive tablescape, always using seasonal foliage, candles and twinkly lights as the base. Whether you're contemplating going down the full traditional route of red, green and mistletoe, or something a bit more natural and pared-back, there are so many different options to suit your interior style and your table. And, it doesn’t just have to be set for one day; you can keep the decorations on or above your table for the whole season. Having shared my own natural rustic styling in my last post: www.interiorstylehost.com/blog/festive-styling-and-decoration-ideas, in this article I’ll be showing you a few very different festive tablescapes to inspire you. I’ll start with some simple styling tips to help you create your own festive table. Pictured here is what I believe is one of the most striking table set-ups, with gorgeous Christmas stars made of paper from Garden Trading. It’s both the shape, size and colours that resonate with me, with on-trend tones including Truffle, Warm White, Nutmeg and Rosemary - proof that you don’t need tons of sparkle to make a table feel special. To create a striking hanging display over the table, you can do it in two ways. If you have a central pendant hanging above your table and you can remove the shade and attach branches to the light fixture with string or florist's wire. Alternatively, if there is no light above the table, a small hook in the ceiling will suffice. You can make your creation on a table with ribbon or string ready for hanging and, once suspended, add stars, baubles or other decorations. Before you get inspired by my handpicked table arrangements in this article, here is a handy list of some of the items you may wish to use to create your own festive tablescape.
CREATING A STYLISH TABLESCAPE - THE ITEMS YOU NEED
LINEN CLOTH OR RUNNER
Choose natural linens like crumpled pre-washed linen for natural, unfussy elegance. I prefer to use a runner as I have a mango wood table and like the wood to show through.
SEASONAL FOLIAGE
Bring life and nature to your table with greenery. I always tuck in sprigs of whatever I happen to have in the garden or growing somewhere close by. This can include different species of fir, holly, eucalyptus, rosemary, mistletoe and ivy. Branches with berries, like holly, for example, also look effective. Don’t rule out bare branches as these are useful to give structure and act as a base for you to drape and poke your sprigs and branches of greenery into. If real fir is not an option, there are some very good imitation fir garlands you could use instead.
SEASONAL FLOWERS
Add festive flair with seasonal flowers including poinsettias, hellebores (aka the Christmas rose) and cyclamen in white or red. You can pick a few stems and place them in little clear vases in amongst the foliage or add them to each place setting.
FAIRY LIGHTS
Once your greenery is in place, you may want to weave in a set or two of twinkly fairy lights that are not so powerful or bright that they distract from the subtlety of your stylish tablescape.
CANDLES
For the extra ambient lighting and twinkle, add candles. This could be in the form of low-level tea lights, little lanterns, tall candle holders, standalone candles, or a mixture. There is a vast amount of choice, dependent on your preference and the theme of your table. Nearly all shapes and sizes, from tea lights to tall tapered types, are available in imitation candles and look almost as good as the real thing with flickering wicks and dripping wax.
BAUBLES
If you want to opt for a theme such as silver and white, add baubles in white in various textures, as well as various silver finishes from metallic to glitter-drenched.
RIBBONS
You can use ribbons to tie cutlery, wrap around napkins or, as you will see in this article, tied in a bow around candlesticks. It’s simple, affordable, and looks so good. Velvet or a sheer ribbon will add that touch of luxury.
NATURAL ELEMENTS
Pine cones, or even nuts, such as walnuts, dried fruit, or small clementines, pomegranates and cranberries can be layered into your greenery.
OTHER LITTLE TOUCHES
Crackers on place settings, a tiny wrapped gift, or even wrapped chocolates can be woven into the greenery.
NAPKINS
Linen napkins always add that elegant touch, but you can bring in pattern, colour and theme with paper napkins.
A TABLESCAPE WITH POINSETTIAS
Poinsettias have long been a classic flower for the festive season. I like to have them in all different sizes - large ones in my concrete planter, medium-sized in various pots dotted around the house, and the smallest to decorate surfaces. The experts at Stars for Europe UK share a variety of design ideas using this beautiful winter bloomer. I love the way they are tucked into black cone-style vases suspended from the candelabra, and also on the place settings. They’ve completely transformed this table and made it feel instantly festive.
Photo credit: Stars for Europe
STYLISH TABLE ARRANGEMENT WITH RIBBONS
This richly styled tablescape is colourful, yet still feels elegant and festive. For this look, it’s all about the ribbons and bows. The ribbon garland hanging above the table by Swoon Editions sets the tone, echoing the deep purple and damson ribbons tied in bows around the five candlesticks, creating a sociable party atmosphere that will work right through the season. If you have a bunch of candlesticks, adding a bow is a simple yet effective styling trick. Choose ribbons in velvet, silk or sheer materials for that luxurious touch.
Photo credit: Swoon Editions
BLACK, RED AND GOLD FESTIVE TABLE
This dramatic tablescape is ideal for those who prefer a more unconventional touch to festive dining. The black cloth, draped across the table almost like an oversized runner, makes a statement and is lifted by accents of the antique gold star and bows, and the deep red in the candles and crackers. Every detail is carefully chosen for impact, and each piece is part of a curated collection from Rockett St George which, along with their black and off-white dinner set, adds to the elegance of the table. If you want to emulate a black, red and gold tablescape, bring in some seasonal greenery, like on the table pictured here, such as fir or eucalyptus, to soften the look.
Photo credit: Rockett St George
DECORATING WITH RED AND WHITE
This dining room and table are an example of how to use red and white with a modern twist. The red is in different scales, with the subtle red ticking stripe tablecloth by The Secret Linen Store, paired with other red accents: the star, candles and ribbons on the table. Then there’s the gorgeous solid red star and huge statement red-and-white striped bow, which adds interest without feeling too 'matchy'. Touches of green in the foliage and paper tree have been woven in to break up the red and give the room a natural festive feel.
Photo credit: The Secret Linen Store
SILVER TABLESCAPE
If you read last week's post on natural Christmas styling, www.interiorstylehost.com/blog/festive-styling-and-decoration-ideas, you will have already come across my tablescape that I styled and decorated a few years back for both the festive season and a magazine shoot. Just to recap, I started with a base by scattering fir sprigs all along the centre, followed by a string of fairy lights in cute little glass bottles. I placed real pine cones that I had sprayed white on the fir, along with a few concrete apples I normally have on display in the kitchen. It’s worth looking around your house for items like these apples that might just work well within your festive arrangement. The flicker of candlelight came in all shapes and forms, with candle holders and lanterns I had collected over the years. My glass Christmas tree has been one of my staple styling pieces for several years. I filled it with a large candle and dried cranberries, as well as pine cones, but this year I placed a mixture of silver baubles in different finishes to complement the silver-toned theme.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
PARED-BACK TABLE SETTING
This festive table, in a neutral palette, shows us that simplicity and nature can be just as impactful as colour and sparkle. The tablescape has been created starting with a small black and white striped linen runner. Pine cones and foliage have been scattered across the table for a relaxed, natural look, teamed with classic white tableware. What I find striking about this tablescape is the three black candle holders in varying sizes, which give height and style to the table, creating a lovely sense of sophistication and teaming with the black in the runner for a cohesive look. I am inspired to invest in some for my own tablescape this winter. Finally, the bare wooden tones of the trestle-style dining table and matching bench by The Cotswold Company give the whole scheme a natural approach to festive dining.
Photo credit: The Cotswold Company
WINTER WHITE TABLE ARRANGEMENT
Set against a backdrop of a timber cabin with twinkling lights, this festive table setting strikes a balance between rustic charm and elegance. The soft white linen creates a base for the warm gold accents, so the look feels coordinated without being too formal. The mistletoe design napkins from Talking Tables add a delicate botanical touch that ties in beautifully with the fairy lights and gold elements, while pomegranates and foliage add those all-important natural touches.
Photo credit: Talking Tables
NATURAL-TONED PLACE SETTING
This is a place setting without fuss that would work as well on an autumn/winter table as it would for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The textured linens in earthy ochre and forest green, the pine cone and berry decorations, and the patterned tableware, all work together to create a look that feels carefully curated with the added touches of napkin rings and tiny sprigs of rosemary. It’s a perfect example of how you can create an inviting table that would work for the season and longer.
Photo credit: Cox & Cox
TRADITIONAL CHINA TABLESCAPE
I love these illustrations of a nostalgic Santa and Christmas tree that have a wonderful traditional feel. These are from a collection of bone china from Gisela Graham and they’ve got that classic festive feel but still work beautifully in a more modern setting. My own decorations are a more natural, rustic style, but over the years I’ve collected several pieces of china with Christmas illustrations and used them for serving everything from cakes to pigs-in-blankets. In the image here, a Christmas runner with the same illustrations is layered over a forest green tablecloth and teamed with gold cutlery tied with velvet ribbons. There’s something magical about nostalgia at this time of year - whether it's through decorations that your children have made or festive tableware you’ve collected over the years, bring them out this Christmas.
Photo credit: Gisela Graham London
WHITE AND SILVER PLACE SETTING
White is a classic for Christmas and works especially well as a backdrop for greenery, silver and gold. Pictured here, eucalyptus has been simply strewn across the table, while gold touches add sheen. The place setting is laid with white linen napkins and a delicate antique-style glass bauble to bring a sophisticated touch and festive sparkle to the table. To be creative with your own place settings, you can use anything from festive decorations, miniature trees, small Christmas figurines, a bow, crackers, a small wrapped gift, chocolates or dried fruit, laid on top of the napkin. But to really impress your guests, you could have napkins monogrammed with an initial, like these white cotton napkins pictured here, by The Fine Cotton Company.
Photo credit: The Fine Cotton Company
WINTRY SCENE TABLESCAPE
My number one item when creating a festive tablescape is some form of twinkle from candles and fairy lights. This wintry scene has been created by layered candlelight and fairy lights combined with different forms of miniature tree decorations, which create an enchanting scene for festive dining. I also like the lilac-toned napkins tied in a knot and placed on each table setting, with small sprigs of similar-toned flowers in mini glass vases, adding charm. The table has been beautifully lit using LED candles and fairy lights from FestiveLights.co.uk, which create a magical atmosphere without the risk of real flames.
Photo credit: @Homesweetbabe ©FestiveLights Ltd.
STRIKING HAND-PAINTED BAUBLE HANGING ARRANGEMENT
This striking tablescape is brought to life by the creative use of colour and texture from the branch suspended above the table, with hand-painted baubles simply hung from it. To create this yourself, you need a simple bare branch, a pack of plain silver or white baubles, silver thread and paint. The baubles pictured here have been painted in Emperor's Silk and Paris Grey, two of Annie Sloan’s signature chalk paint shades, are a gorgeous combination. The table setting is also striking, and has been laid with a grey crumpled linen cloth and decorated with an opulent glass chandelier, and mixed, elegant glassware filled with Christmas goodies such as clementines and nuts. The simple black homemade crackers in black and silver finish off this glamorous Christmas tablescape perfectly.
Photo credit: Annie Sloan Paint
LET’S SUM UP
This eclectic bunch of table arrangements proves that you just need a little consideration and creativity to make a festive tablescape. From the tables featured where the statement decoration is hanging above the table, to more traditional table settings with bone china and nostalgic illustrations, hopefully this round-up has inspired you to create your own special seasonal tablescape.
